Meet Reviewer Joan Lee
About Me Favorite Romance Novels
I grew up in a sleepy suburb in California. I was a steady reader since I was young, going to the library every Tuesday. Over time I racked up large overdue fines because I would hold onto a good book for a little bit too long (yes, I have now paid them all off). I was addicted to fantasy stories, Greek mythology, folk tales, fairy tales and any story involving horses.
When I was in my early teens, I picked up a Regency romance novel, and then another, and then another. I eventually expanded into lengthier European historical romance novels, and this is still my favorite genre.
I graduated from UC Berkeley with a double major in English and Mass Communications. I moved to New York to explore more opportunities, and I am now working at an academic publishing company (most tragically for this humanities major, it’s all science). I still manage to make plenty of time for reading romance novels, and I’d like to become even more involved with fiction in the future.
Absolute Favorites
Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas
My Pleasure by Connie Brockway
Highland Fire by Elizabeth Thornton
Favorite Classic
Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Favorite Romance Series
Company of Rogues by Jo Beverley
Ghostwalkers by Christine Feehan
Personal Reading Tastes Favorites by Sub-Genre
What I’m a sucker for in a book: Romances where the hero is attracted to (or in love with) the heroine first, romances that began with childhood friendships, a well-told amnesia plot (emphasis on well-told), romances where an arrogant hero is eventually humbled (not humiliated), an original use of secret identities/mysteries/secrets, and arranged marriages.
What I don’t particularly care for in a book: villains who are not scary or have weak motivations, secret children, romances between heroes in their thirties with heroines who are in their teens, anachronistic speech, stories without tension or suspense, love scenes that happen too early in the relationship.
What drives me absolutely nuts in a book: Stupid/silly/ditzy/immature heroines, adultery, heroines stupidly placing themselves into danger so the hero has to rescue them, cliched amnesia plots, mistresses who stick around for far too long.
Favorite Romance Authors
All-Time Favorite Romance Authors
Connie Brockway
Lisa Kleypas
Teresa Medeiros
Elizabeth Thornton
Best Discovery/Buried Treasure Authors
Elizabeth Thornton
My Biggest Glom
Elizabeth Thornton
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Linda Howard
Teresa Medeiros
Medieval:
Uncommon Vows by Mary Jo Putney
The Protector by Madeline Hunter
European Historical:
Virtue by Jane Feather
My Pleasure by Connie Brockway
Highland Fire, Almost a Princess, and Whisper His Name by Elizabeth Thornton
Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas
Frontier or American Historical:
Nobody’s Darling by Teresa Medeiros
Winter Fire by Elizabeth Lowell
Contemporary:
She Went All the Way by Meg Cabot
The Trouble with Valentine’s Day by Rachel Gibson
After the Night by Linda Howard
Traditional Regency:
Miss Treadwell’s Talent by Barbara Metzger
Irresistible and Daring Masquerade by Mary Balogh
Alternate Reality:
Wild Rain and Mind Game by Christine Feehan
Favorite Characters Favorites by Plot Type
Favorite Hero
Case Devere, Almost a Princess by Elizabeth Thornton
Ramsey Munro, My Pleasure by Connie Brockway
Nicolas Trevane, Mind Game by Christine Feehan
David de Abyndon, By Arrangement by Madeline Hunter
Favorite Heroine
Lilly Lawson, Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas
Caitlin, Highland Fire by Elizabeth Thornton
Emma Hotchkiss, Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory
Most Tortured Hero
Samuel Gerard, The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale
Gabriel Fairchild, Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros
Strongest Heroine
Lilly Lawson, Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas
Judith Davenport, Vixen by Jane Feather
Nesta, Stealing Heaven by Madeline Hunter
Anna de Leon, The Protector by Madeline Hunter
Favorite Couple
Lord Alex Raiford and Lilly Lawson, Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas
Samantha Wickersham and Gabriel Fairchild, Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros
Megan Penworthy and Ambrose St. James, Man of My Dreams, by Johanna Lindsey
Cabin or Road:
Lord Perfect by Loretta Chase
Nobody’s Baby but Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Suspense:
Midnight Rainbow and Dream Man by Linda Howard
Funny:
She Went All the Way by Meg Cabot
To Die For by Linda Howard
Sexy:
That Scandalous Evening by Christina Dodd
Books by Linda Howard
All Through the Night by Connie Brockway
The Devil to Pay by Liz Carlyle
Favorites by Mood
Comfort Reads:
Man of My Dreams by Johanna Lindsey
Anything by Lisa Kleypas
Most-Hanky Reads:
Dream a Little Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas
Guilty Pleasure:
Prisoner of My Desire by Johanna Lindsey
Least-Favorites
Most Disappointing Books
Ain’t She Sweet? by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Kiss Me While I Sleep by Linda Howard
Worst Books
The Prize by Brenda Joyce
Evening Star by Catherine Coulter
Anything by Nan Ryan
Most Annoying Lead Character
Heroes/Heroines of Judith McNaught novels
Authors I Have Given Up On
Christina Dodd
Johanna Lindsey
Stephanie Laurens
Nora Roberts
Authors Others Love That I Don’t
Suzanne Brockmann
Non-Romance Favorites
Favorite Author
Amy Tan
Toni Morrison
Favorite Book
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
Favorite Classic Novel
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Favorite Fantasy
Anything by Robin McKinley (Beauty, The Hero and the Crown)
Favorite YA Book
The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper
The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Book Most Often Reread
Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan